Two Down and One to Go (1945) User Reviews

Mildly interesting if seen today.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 12 January 2012]

This is one of many government-produced propaganda documentaries made during the war years by the US Army Pictorial Services. Unlike most, however, it came out after the war in Europe was complete--and with the deaths of Hitler and Mussolini, the title "Two Down and One to Go" makes sense. The film is about the need to defeat the Japanese as well as explaining why the US chose to use most of their forces first against the Germans and Italians--though I assume that by 1945 this was not an important argument and it should have been made in films coming out in 1942 and 1943. The film features General George Marshall (the Chief of Staff and man who headed the overall war effort for the US) who does an adequate if uninspired explanation of the final push to defeat Japan--complete with pictures of Japanese atrocities and the justification for their utter defeat. It's all true but propaganda nonetheless, as its goal is squarely to solidify Americans in this task. It's well done but as I said, Marshall himself was not a great man to do this role in the film--though historically speaking, it is pretty fascinating to get a glimpse of the man.

American propaganda film from World War II

[frantic-2 · 27 January 1999]

When this short movie was made, World War II had reached the stage where Italy and Germany had surrendered but Japan was still to go, hence the title.

The aim of the film was to inform the allied soldiers of their one remaining task. The progress of the war is summarised and the reasons for giving the war in Europe priority over the war in the Pacific, are explained. Although very informative, the nature of the film is such that it must be classified as propaganda. The cartoon sequences are very effective.

Frank Capra directed for the US War Department. The film is very typical of Capra's stuff from the war years.

Not a Fan of Military Propaganda

[KyleLicht · 1/10 · 6 July 2019]

The script is in the shot by like three inches. Come on US Government. Come on Frank Capra! It surprises me that a director as profound as Frank Capra directed this film. I don't know much about Capra and his history or personality, but I've seen It's a Wonderful Life and I understand he's won 3 Oscars and two of his films won Best Picture. The film is US military nationalism and propaganda. It's essentially about how Japan is the final enemy and that they have to be crushed, since they're a threat that refuses to quit. A lot of the film is animation and explanation of how the draft works, what their military plans are, and where on the map the good and bad guys are. After 15 minutes of watching, I feel as if I haven't learned much except that Burma is now Myanmar and Attu is an island in Alaska (and I learned those by looking them up after seeing the names in the film). It's really awkward and obvious that the military is trying to convince us that it's good to bomb Japan and that enlisting is a good choice.